“We had a big influx of snowy owls from the northern Canadian territories this year, and if kids aren’t out in the woods, or down in the open areas, they’d miss something like that,” Bull told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau.

Says Bull, it’s impossible to protect the bald eagle, or the snowy owl if kids grow up without ever having seen one in the wild.

He says, sadly, many kids today today are essentially shuttered.

“Kids are basically under house arrest. You know, parents really don’t want them to go outside. They’re afraid of tick-borne diseases. They’re afraid of other issues outside – safety issues,” said Bull.

Not many, he says, know how to identify the tracks of an animal in the snow.

The Audubon Society is working with Connecticut schools and the Boy Scouts to stress the importance of enlightening the next generation about our creatures in the wild.

Do you teach your children about nature? How do you do it? Share your story in the comments section below!